Self-wringing mop



Sept. 4, 1956 F. H. HARRIS 2,76L162 SELF-WRINGING MOP Filed Oct. 19,y1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l v Sept. 4, 1956 F. H. HARRIS 2,761,162

SELF-WRINGING MOP Filed oct. 19, 195o 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,W7-maw@ YSUnited States vPatent 2 SELF-WINGING MOP Floyd H. Harris, Cincinnati,Ohio, assignor to Bromo- Mint Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio Application October 19, 1950, Serial No. 191,009 4 Claims. (Ci.1S`119) This invention 'relates to mops having a single swab element andis particularly directed to a novel type of self-wringing mop in whichthe swab is eifectively and uniformly compressed by a wringing mechanismwhich can be actuated from a point on the mop handle remote from theswab end.

Mops of the type to which this invention relates are used to clean suchsurfaces as tile, asphalt and linoleum floors, walls and the like.Preparatory to the actual mopping, the swab element, comprising acellulosic sponge or some similar absorbent substance, is immersed in abucket of water containing a solution of soap or detergent. After theswab element has absorbed a quantity of water, the mop is withdrawn fromthe bucket and is either applied directly to the surface to be cleanedor is first conditioned for use by forcing some of the water out of theporous sponge to avoid applying an excessive amount of'water to thefloor or wall being cleaned.

AfterV the dirt has been loosened and picked up by the sponge, the swabelement is squeezed over a bucket or drain so that the water containedin its pores is. forced out leaving the sponge in a condition in whichit may be used to absorb and remove any water remaining on the iloor.After the swab element has absorbed a quantity of the excess water fromthe floor or wall, it is again squeezed out; and the operation isrepeated as often as necessary.

The water used is often very warm, perhaps even boiling, and the soap ordetergent is likely to be rather strong. Furthermore, it is obvious thatin the process of mopping even a relatively small area, it is necessaryto wring out the mop alarge` number of times. As a result, it is verydesirable to provide a means for squeezing the excess moisture from theswab element which does not require the operators hands to come intoContact with those portions of the mop which have been immersed incleaning solution. Convenience makes it further desirable that thesqueezing means be associated with the mop rather than a separate unitsecuredtoV the bucket or placed near th-e drain.

A variety'of devices havebeen developed which permit the swab element tobe squeezed by a wringing mechanism carried by the mop. While thesewringing mechanisms have been more or less eifective, none has beenentirely free of serious defects in one respect or another. Those typeswhich employ a divided swabbing element require that a considerableamount of space be left between the hinged elements thus making the mophead large and unwieldy. Other devices employ a single swab element, butthe squeezing action provided is such that the swab element is subjectedto denite shearing and tearing stresses. Other proposed mechanisms donot effect a thorough squeezing. of the entire swab; that is, portionsof the sponge will be squeezed so that almost their entire amount ofmoisture is forced out while other portions are subject to very littlecompression and hence are-left with most ofthe water still retained intheir pores. Others do not have a wringer attachment thatis compactenoughto drain into theaverage-size pail, as

ffii

2 the swab is being wrung, and also of a size which.) can be dipped intosuch a pail in a non-wringing condition.

Another common faultV with self-wringing mops-has been that the wringingmechanisms are often manipulated by handling a rod or some similar meanslocated `near the swab end. While these means do not. require touchingthe swab proper, ythey do entail a handling'l of other portions at thewet end of the mop and4 hence alarge part of the advantage secured byprovidinga `wringing mechanism is lost. i

The present invention, which avoids these` diiiiculties, proposes anovel sponge mounting and linkage by means of which the sponge may beeffectively and. uniformly squeezed to discharge moisture retainedwithin the sponge cells.

One feature of this invention is a positive locking arrangement to keepthe swab-sponge head. compressed in its wringing position until it is`desired to release it from such position. In other words, I haveprovidedl a mop in which a constant squeezing pressure may be maintainedon the swab without a corresponding, continuing pressure on the part ofthe operator. Additionally, by this structure, the pressure which needbe executed by the operator in expelling water from the mop isminimized. In fact, the arrangement of this invention translates asimple pulling motion into a compression eifective to wring the swab toa low moisture content.

These advantages are accomplished, in part, by ythe concept of havingtwo entirely different anddistinct positions for the mop head in itsrespective mopping and wringing operations. Both the mopping positionandthe squeezing-wringing position are stable ones. In the moppingposition the swab is angulated with respect tov the mop handleV so thatit will ride on the floor when the conventional mopping stroke isemployed. On the other hand, when it is desired to expel water from theswab, it may be retracted from this mopping positioninto a wringingposition in which the swab head is in. facial abutment and pressurecontact with a squeeze surface. Compressed between `a backing plate andthis squeeze'surface, the swab loses its excess water and is readyl forreuse.

Adjustment from one of these positions to. the other is made bymanipulations remote from the wet end of the mop. For that purpose, lhere disclose. structure for actuating the wringing or squeezingmechanism of the mop which includes a movable sleevemounted `on the mophandle at a point removed from the swab end. Thus, by slidingthe. sleevewith one hand while holding the mop. at its free end with the other, theoperatorcan squeeze the swab without contacting either they swab` or thewet and soiled parts associated with it.

I am aware that ithas been previously proposed to utilize a sleevearrangement in which a wringingaction is exerted on the swab at the endof a downward push stroke of the sleeve. In order to present. agraspable surface on the handles of such mops, however, those sleeveshave been normally positioned below that portion of the stick which isheldV during the mopping stroke. Thus, in order to actuate the sleeveand its corresponding wringing mechanism, it has been necessary eitherfor the operator to bendover or to lift the mop well above thefloor topush the sleeve downwardly along .the.handle. On the other hand, byemploying my retraction principle, the sleeve can be so situated onthemop stick that it is drawn over that part of the stick which isnormally held by the hands. Thus, my mop can be held directly overadrain duringthe squeezing operation without the `users stoopingor'bending from'an upright position, or without any significant movementfrom the moppingposition.

After the' water has been forced from the cells ofthe spongeblock'andvit is ydesired to return the block to the angulated position in which itis held during mopping, the sleeve is imoved along the handle away fromthe operator, or toward the swab end of the mop, the actuating rodforcing the hingeportion of the plates along. an arcuate path towardsthe mopping position. When the sleeve has reached its position ofmaximum travel, it is locked in place by some catch means and thelinkage constrains the backing plate at an operable mopping angle withrespect to the handle while the squeeze plate is firmly held in anout-of-the-way floor clearing position.

An object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a mop in which theswab element may be squeezed free of water without the necessity of theoperator touching any part of the wet, soapy end of the mop.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a selfwringing mop ameans for effecting a uniform compression of the swab element.

An additional object of this invention is to provide in a self-wringingmop, actuating means for the wringing mechanism which do not requirethat the operators hau-ds be changed from their normal mopping position.

A further object of this invention is to provide a squeezing mechanismwhich will function without subjecting the'swab element to anyappreciable shearing stress.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a squeeze platewhich is so mounted that it is positively held in an out-of-the-wayfloor-clearing position during the period when the mop is being pushedacross the surface being cleaned.

These and other objects an'd advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom a consideration of the specification in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the mop with the squeeze plateand backing plate `disposed in the mopping position.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the mop with the backing plateand squeeze plate in the mopping position.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the mop, partially broken away toshow details of the linkage actuating the backing and squeeze plates,which are shown in the mopping position.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 with the base plate and squeezeplate brought together into a parallel relationship to exert acompressive wringing action on the sponge. y

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side view of the mop in the mopping position.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the action of theactuating rod during the rst part of its movement outwardly along thehandle.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the vaction of thelinkage at the commencement of the wringing action.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing the squeezing and backingplates in the wringing position.

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view along 'line 9--9 of Figure 1.

Figure l0 is a cross sectional view along line ltl--ltl of Figure 3.

As ydisclosed in the drawings, l provide at the end of the mop handletwo rotatable plates hinged together for pivotal movement relative toeach other. One of the plates carries a cellulosic sponge block and thesecond, or squeezing plate, cooperates with this sponge backing plate toexert a wringing action on the sponge when the plates are moved into asqueezing position. Neither the backing plate nor the squeezing plate isfixedly mounted, both being pivotally' mounted upon link members whichthemselves are rotatably supported by the mop handle. The hinge portionof the two plates is likewise movable, being drawn along a defined pathby its actuating rod which is moved by, and attached to, the sleeve.

When the sleeve is pulled along the handle toward the operator, thelinkage is such that the two plates are brought into a parallelposition, with the swab block being squeezed between them. The action ofthe plates in moving into their parallel squeezing relationship is suchthat the sponge is not only uniformly compressed but is subjected topractically no shearing stress which would have a tendency to tear orrip the cellulosic block.

Referring now to the figures in detail, the mop generally comprises ahandle 10, a backing plate 11 carried thereby, a swab element 12removably secured to plate 11, and a squeeze plate 13 hingeablyconnected to the backing plate 11 and adapted to cooperate with it tocompress swab element 12 between them. A hand-contactible sleeve 14 isslidably mounted upon handle 10 remote from the swab end. Connectingsleeve 14 and the hinged portion of the squeeze and backing plates is anactuating rod 15 which transforms the linear movement of sleeve 14 intoan arcuate movement of hinge 16 to guide the plates into and out ofswab-squeezing position.

As shown in Figure 2, the handle 1t) is provided with a spring-loadeddepressible pin 17 which is adapted to cooperate with an aperture 18 insleeve 14 to holld the sleeve and actuating rod in a xed moppingposition. A collar 20 is secured to the end of the mop and achannel-shaped hinge member 21 is rotatably secured to collar 20 as by arivet 22. An end of hinge member 21 is pivotally joined to flanges 23provided 0n the rear face of backing plate 11.

Backing plate 11 carries swab 12 which consists of a cellulose sponge orsome similar material in the form of a rectangular block. As shown inFigure 9, sponge block 24 is joined to a backing strip 25 by any one ofthe adhesives well known in the art, and this backing strip is thencovered with a sheet of cloth 26 which is also cemented to the sponge.Backing strip is provided with apertures adapted to engage bolts 27which pass through openings provided in the backing plate 11, thuseffecting a firm but readily releasable juncture of plate 11 and swabelement 12. It will be understood that the exact method of joining thebacking plate and sponge constitutes no part of the present inventionand` that various methods of securing the two are contemplated.

Both backing plate 11 and squeeze prlate 13 are provided with aplurality of flanges 28 having hinge pin receiving apertures 3l) formedadjacent their outer edges. A hinge pin 31 is journalled in theseapertures forming a hinged connection between the two plates. Squeezeplate 13 is further provided with a plurality of spaced openings 32through which water can escape when the plates compress the sponge 24,thereby facilitating the removal of moisture from the sponge when theplates are brought into the squeezing position.

The linkage by which squeeze plate 13 is secured lto handle 10 comprisesa rotatable link 33 and a Slidable link 34. One end of each of the links33 and 34 is disposed within a slot formed in the mop handle, asparticularly shown Iin Figures l, 3, and 4. Rotatable link 33 is mountedupon a pivot pin 3S, provided in the mop handle, and is also pivotallysecured to a pin 36 carried by anges 37 of the rear surface of squeezeplate 13, Slidable link 34 is joined by means of pin 38 to rotatablelink 33 at a position near its center. Link 34 is provided with a slot40 engaging a stop pin 41 which passes through the mop handle 10. Thechief function of sliding link 34 is to limit the travel of rotatinglink 33 in a manner to be later described.

Actuating rod 15, one end of which is secured to sleeve 14, is providedwith an opening 42 adjacent its opposite end through which hinge pin 31,securing the backing and the squeeze plates together, is journaled. Thispermits the motion of sleeve 1d to be transmitted to the hinged portionof the squeeze and backing plates.

ln operation, when it is desired to alter the relationship of the platesfrom their distended, or mopping, position to a juxtaposed, parallelsqueezing position depressible pin 17 is pushed downwardly freeingsleeve 14 to permit it to be pulled outwardly along mop handle 10. Thisaction of sleeve 14 is transmitted to actuating rod 15, in turn drawinghinge pin 31 joining the backing and squeeze plates along an arcuatepath. This path is rst directed transverse of, and toward, the mophandle axis, then substantially parallel to it and finally transverse,and away from, the handle axis. As hinge pin 31 is moved by actuatingrod 15, channel-shaped hinge member 21 rotates about pin 22, which joinsit to collar 20. This action is best illustrated in Figures 7 and 8.

As sleeve 14 and actuating rod 15 continue to move toward the free endof the mop handle, the arcuate path along which hinge 16 is proceedingis defined transversely but away from the axis of the mop handle. Ashinge 16 is being moved parallel to the handle axis, rotatable link 33has rotated about pin 3S, which joins it with handle 10, to its mostoutward position. Further rotation of this link 33 is prevented by theengagement of the end of slot 40 of sliding link 34 with stop pin 41.Meanwhile, the movement of hinge 16 forces the rotation of channel hingemember 21 until point 23 of its jointure with backing plate 11 isapproximately aligned with its support point 22 on collar 20 and the endof rotatable link 33 secured to squeeze plate 13. In this position thesqueeze and backing plates are converged into a juxtaposed, parallelrelationship in which swab element 12 is compressed between them.

When it is desired to return the plates to their mopping position,sleeve 14 is slid along the mop handle 10 toward the swab end and thecorresponding movement of rod 15 forces hinge 16 first toward the mophandle, and then parallel to it, causing channel hinge member 21 torotate about its pivot point 22 on collar 20 and also causing rotatablelink 33 to rotate toward mop handle 10. Further movement of the sleeve14 results in actuating rod 15 forcing hinge 16 further along the handleand then outwardly from it.

At the end of the sleeves travel, it is locked in place by theengagement of `spring-urged pin 17 with sleeve opening 18. Thus, sleeve14 and actuating rod 15 are firmly held in the mopping position againstaccidental disengagement. In this position, rotatable link 33 hasrotated as far toward a parallel relationship with handle as ispermitted by the action of sliding link 34. That is, as the moppingposition is approached, slot 40 in sliding link 34 engages stop pin 41in the mop handle, thus preventing further movement of link 34 and hencepreventing further rotation of rotatable link 33.

Additionally, pin 38, which joins slidable link 34 and rotatable link33, is elongated so that it engages actuating rod to prevent any furtherangular movement of rod 1S away from mop handle 10. This preventsalignment of the point of juncture of sleeve 14 and actuating rod 15,pivot point 36 of squeeze plate 13 and rotatable link 33, and journal 42joining hinge pin 31 and rod 15. Obviously, if these three points wereallowed to come into alignment the linear motion of sleeve 14 would notthen cause hinge 16 to rotate about pivot point 36 (between squeezeplate 13 and rotatable link 33) and hence any movement of sleeve 14would be ineffective to bring the plates into a parallel relationship.

Itwill be noted that in the mopping position, backing plate 11 is rmlyheld lin an angulated position relative to mop handle 10 whereby swab 12is advantageously disposed for its movement over the surface beingcleaned. Furthermore, squeeze plate 13 is held in a floor-clearing,out-of-the-way position so that it will not interfere with the swabelement.

It can be seen that a device constructed in accordance with my inventionprovides a simple but effective method of wringing moisture from a swabat the end of a mop stick. Furthermore, it will he noted that since thesqueezing and backing plates :tre brought into an absolutely parallelrelationship, the compression of the swab ele- 6 ment is uniform. Andiinally, it will be seen that the compressive action exerted upon theswab element is such that there are no shearing stresses set up in thesponge which would tend to shorten its life by tearing or ripping.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a self-wringing mop having a handle and a swab mounted on saidhandle, the combination of a squeeze plate and linkage for positioningsaid plate relative said swab, said linkage comprising a rotatable linkhaving one end thereof secured to said plate and the other end thereofsecured to said handle and a second link pivotally joined to saidrotatable link at an intermediate point thereof, said second link beingslidably mounted for transverse movement relative said handle.

2. ln a self-wringing mop having a handle and a swab mounted on saidhandle, the combination of a squeeze plate; linkage for positioning saidplate relative said swab, said linkage comprising a rotatable linkhaving one end thereof secured to said plate and the other end thereofto said handle and a second link pivotally joined t0 said rotatable linkat an intermediate portion thereof, said second link being slidablymounted for transverse movement relative said handle; 4and means forlimiting the sliding movement of said second link.

3. A self-wringing mop comprising a handle, a swab assembly, means fordisposing said swab assembly at a plurality of angles with respect tosaid handle, said means including an elongate hinge member having itsends rotatably secured to said handle and to said swab assemblyrespectively and coniigurated to reside in alignment with said handle, asqueeze plate, a hinge joining said plate to said swab assembly, a rodattached to said hinge Iand secured to said handle for longitudinalmovement therealong, and linkage for positioning said squeeze platerelative said swab assembly, said linkage comprising a rotatable linkhaving one end thereof secured to said plate and the other end thereofsecured to said handle and a second link pivotally joined to saidrotatable link at an intermediate point thereof, said second link beingslidably mounted for transverse movement relative said handle.

4. A self-wringing mop comprising a handle, a swab assembly rotatablymounted thereon, a squeeze plate, linkage for positioning said platerelative said swab assembly, said linkage comprising a rotatable linkhaving one end thereof secured to said plate and the other end thereofsecured to said handle Iand a second link having one end pivotallyjoined to said rotatable link at an intermediate point thereof andhaving its other end movably mounted in said handle for limited slidablemovement transversely thereof, a hinge connecting said swab assembly andsaid squeeze plate, a hand-contactible element slidably engaging saidhandle, and a link joining said hinge to said hand-contactible elementfor transmitting movement of said element into divergence andconvergence `of said swab assembly and said squeeze plate.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS547,622 Ballam Oct. 29, 1895 1,855,218 Brignole Apr. 26, 1932 1,912,543Sendler .Tune 6, 1933 2,044,075 Jelenfy June 16, 1936 2,093,101 SendlerSept. 14, 1937 2,153,601 Vaughn Apr. l1, 1939 2,251,384 Thomas Aug. 5,1941 2,288,647 Reynolds July 7, 1942 2,468,102 Berndsen Oct. 25, 1949FOREIGN PATENTS 76,184 Norway Jan. 30, 1950 411,314 Great Britain June7, 1934 617,197 Germany Aug. 14, 1935

